The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-19
A. Mother'x Vision.


the muslin, cn tains are pulled all away,
! where pussy must have froicked in the
folds; and, dear, dear, there's Jack this min.
ute with his feet in that stuffed chair -
'Come, come, mother, | wouldn't fret
said easy Mr.. Jewett; "the children must put
their feet somewhere. and suppose kittens
will be kittens and fly about where they Can
.fnd the most fun"
"0b, yes" rejoined Mrs. Jewett "Its
very easy for you father, to think children
and cats can 60 where they like and do what
they please. I'm not fretting, but it's hard
work to sweep and polish, and do clear
starohing; and men never did know and new
er will know anything about the work of a
housekeeper and mother"
80 saying, Mrs. Jewett, with her fair, pret-
ty face sll in wrinkles, went out of the room
with worried:
"Oh, dear ~
And her husband looked after her with a
compassionate:
Poor mother u
Naturally Mrs. Jewett was of happy dis
position, but like many other fond, faithful
mothers,she was unconsciously falling into a
habit Of worrying over the inevitable faults
and thoughtessness of her children.
Sho was scrupulously neat housekeeper
and as her things had not come as easily as
they do to many others, they acquired all
the more. value and Importance in her eyes,
once they came into her possession.
Al
girls, and even poor capering kitty herself,
was fast developing in Mrs. Jewett that
irritating fretfulness and impatence which
kills true happiness and comfort in many
home, and where the mothers real object is
to make sll as comfortable and happy as
possible.
In vain Mr.. Jewett limited that things were
always going wrong, somehow, and that
there was no end of peevishness and fault
finding taking root in his family.
At such times Mrs. Jewett would shed
tears and declare no one could do more than
spend all their time and energies for the well
fare Of their family, as she did.
One morning the curtains were discovered
to have been rolled up all to one side, while
the summer sunshine was flooding, with its
wholesome light, the brig pattern of the
new Brussels carpet. Jennie and Carrie had
left their school books scattered .aronnd on
the chairs, aud Jacks muddy bJots stood in
the middle of the floor.
Mrs Jewett burst into a tirade of displ,as.
ure, but the children were out of heariug, 80
In g ,,,l; t,,o
them in and oblgiug them TO put things in
their places. she began putting things /,
rights herself, allowing MIR. Jewett, as FRI
quently happened, to bear the brunt of hel
displeasure, and Tor once his good natuic
gave way and hs said pettishly:
II declare, wife. it is a thousand piths
there are any children hero to bother ycu
So"
Mrs. Jewett made no reply, but going to
her room she sat duwl for moment to cul-
slider whether or not her husband meant
what he had just said.
But by degrees the room faded from hel
vision, the house became quiet-terrbly
quiet-the sunlight died out, and shade aud
stiffness reigned supreme.
There were footsteps heard, but hushed,
creeping, awed.
All of active life had ceased ;even the kitty
had taken herself of, and was no where to
be seen.
Mrs. Jewett reused herself, and y ent from
Kitchen to dining-room, from dinng-room
to psrlur. The invariable order was oppres-
.s've.
The curtains were rolled with exact evsu-
ness; not the finest line of sunlight could
pierce through crack or cIevice of the nicely
adjusted shutters.
Every book was in its place; the chairs as
guiltess of dust as if just cleaned, and un
blurred polish Of the piano reflected each un-
disturbed ornament and object in its vcini-
ty.
But the children Oh, the children
A great appalling throb of apprehension
and whitening pain shot UNI epressed through
the m theirs heart at the mention of their
name.
Where was winsome-no longer mischiev.
oas but wiusome-Wiliie? ..
Where pray, were spoitive Carrie and live
ly Jennie? Where, too, bounding, loving
little Jack? "Yes," she said, vaguely peer
ing about in the sunless gloom, where are
my precious children ?''
She left the dining-room and parlor and
went from one childs chamber to an other
everything in that same depressing order,
even their little beds were unruffied, each
smooth pillow looked as if Impressed by a
sunny head for-oh, SO long.
And, ah, misery What was that In
Willie's room in the porcelain vase?
Some white flowers tied with white satin
ribbon; and this heart breaking emblem in
Jennie's room? Her picture, sweet child
with crown of fading flowers encircling it
and here in Carries room her picture, the
darling, also crowned with immortelles.
Aud Jacks room, fvrlorn in its tidness;
YES yes, funeral wreath NJ his room, dear,
loving little Jack.
Mrs. Jewstt's first impulse was to disar-
range everything;-he quiet aud paling neat
ness were gcadn 6 her to madness; even kitty
had deserted the sunless, childess house, but
the children-oh, the children! The mother
felt as if her brain were aiire, aud her heart
was bursting with its pent grief; she could
not endure it another moment-and she
swoke.
Thank God She was sitting directly in
the rare, sweet sunlight which God made to
come in, not to be shut out of our homes In
the garden she heard the sweet, delightsome
voices of her children-the blessed little
.t;Ilnan